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A night breeze swept through the grand hall, causing the candle flames to flicker and the shadows cast by the beams and drapes to dance like restless ghosts, lending the room an eerie and oppressive atmosphere.
On the chessboard, black and white pieces intertwined in a fierce and bloody struggle. By now, there was little space left on the board—the game had entered its final stage, where victory or defeat would be decided by the last dozen or even fewer moves.
Especially in the endgame, the difference between playing first or second could completely overturn the entire match...
Yuan Wei held a chess piece between his fingers, lightly tapping it against the edge of the board, producing a steady tock-tock sound.
Though he had remained silent during the grand court assembly regarding the proposal to move the capital, that did not mean he agreed with it. To be precise, if only Emperor Liu Xie and Chancellor Dong Zhuo were to relocate to Chang'an, Yuan Wei would have immediately raised both hands in approval—even going so far as to offer whatever they needed, even if it meant emptying the imperial treasury.
The prosperity of Heluo was not merely about the wealth stored in Luoyang's treasury. Rather, it was the accumulation of riches across the entire Heluo region since Emperor Guangwu established Luoyang as the capital. Here lay the most fertile lands, the most advanced irrigation systems, and the densest concentration of noble families...
There was no denying that Dong Zhuo—or rather, Li Ru's—move had taken Yuan Wei completely by surprise. He had never imagined that Dong Zhuo's faction would possess such audacity to propose relocating the capital.
In any dynasty, at any time, moving the capital was an immensely significant affair...
When Liu Bang first established the Han Dynasty, he had considered making Luoyang the capital but ultimately chose Chang'an instead. This was because, although the Qin Dynasty had fallen, remnants of its armies still resisted the Xiongnu along the borders. If Liu Bang had not stationed himself in Chang'an to gradually resolve the lingering issues left by the Qin, what if the people of the western passes rallied behind a so-called "Fourth Generation of Qin" or "Fifth Generation of Qin"?
Another reason was that Liu Bang's regime was unstable at the time. The feudal lords enfeoffed across the land, along with the lingering influence of the old Warring States aristocracy, remained powerful. Thus, choosing Luoyang—a hub accessible from all directions—was not the wisest choice.
Luoyang might have been the geographical center of the nation, but that also meant it was vulnerable to attacks from all sides. It was far safer to establish the capital in Chang'an, nestled within the easily defensible terrain of the Guanzhong region.
Most importantly, this move forced many of the Shandong nobles who had followed Liu Bang to leave their ancestral lands and take up positions in Chang'an, severing their local power bases and allowing Liu Bang's fragile regime to consolidate and grow in Guanzhong...
When Liu Xiu (Emperor Guangwu) established his capital in Luoyang—believing the Han to be ruled by the fire virtue and thus wary of water, he changed the name from Luo to Luò, hence also called Luoyang—it was because his rise to power relied heavily on the support of two key regions: Nanyang (his imperial homeland) and Hebei (where his rebellion began). At the time, aside from the Green Forest Army opposing Wang Mang, remnants of the Red Eyebrows, backed by the western nobility, still roamed Guanzhong. Moreover, regions like Longzhong, Shu, Hexi, Qingzhou, and Xuzhou were still under the control of powerful local warlords who had not fully submitted. Thus, abandoning his core support bases to establish a capital in the war-torn Chang'an would have been both unwise and impractical, leaving him no choice but to settle in Luoyang.
However, precisely because Liu Xiu moved the political center eastward, the Eastern Han Dynasty never exercised the same level of control over the Hexi Corridor as the Western Han had. This led to the persistent problem of Qiang and Hu rebellions in Yongliang, which plagued Eastern Han rulers for generations—until Dong Zhuo himself rose to power by suppressing these very rebellions...
Every action begets a reaction, all ordained by fate.
Yuan Wei had been playing his game centered around the capital's politics, never expecting Dong Zhuo and Li Ru to openly abandon the board and start a new game elsewhere.
In this regard, Yuan Wei had to admire Dong Zhuo and Li Ru.
Such strategic vision and maneuvering—this was what made them worthy opponents!
However...
Did they truly believe they could succeed?
In Yuan Wei's eyes, Dong Zhuo's desire to move the capital to Chang'an was nothing more than an attempt to follow Liu Bang's old path—breaking free from the influence of the eastern nobility, particularly the Nanyang and Hebei factions, and establishing an independent regime.
When Li Ru first proposed this during the grand assembly, Yuan Wei had been deeply conflicted, hence his prolonged silence.
On one hand, he believed relocating the capital would be detrimental to the empire. Yet another voice within him whispered: If Emperor Guangwu could rise from Nanyang, why not a second?
Or perhaps... even more than that.
This seductive thought had occupied Yuan Wei's mind throughout the assembly and even after returning to his residence.
The stakes were too high—every angle had to be considered carefully.
After generations of meticulous planning, the Yuan family was finally reaping the rewards. At their call, the eastern coalition had rallied beneath their banners—a feat even Liu Xiu had failed to achieve.
For the Yuan family, moving the capital might not be entirely disadvantageous. If only half the court could be relocated, that would be even more ideal.
But the current game was already nearing its end. Trying to start a new one? Yuan Wei smirked coldly. They'd have to finish this match first!
The Yang family was already secretly rallying lower-ranking officials to resign, slowing the relocation process. The Yuan family might as well join in and muddy the waters further!
This was the first move.
The corners of Yuan Wei's lips curled into a sinister smile as he placed a piece on the board. This was the Yuan family's opening gambit—a move they had to seize first.
Then, he slowly picked up another piece and placed it on another critical point...
Yuan Shao would lead troops from Jizhou, advancing through Henei. They could cross the river at Mengjin to coordinate with the eastern coalition at Suanzao, attacking the rear of Chenggao's Hulao Pass—or cross at Xiaopingjin to strike Luoyang directly from the north!
This was the second move—another opening play for the Yuan family.
Next, Yuan Wei placed yet another piece.
Yuan Shu would push along the Liangdong front, assaulting Luoyang from the southeast. If necessary, he could even breach Wuguan and charge toward Tong Pass to sever the westward relocation route!
This was the third move—another critical play they could not afford to lose.
Finally, Yuan Wei picked up his last piece and placed it squarely on the eye of the enemy's dragon—the vital point for the kill...
The eastern coalition at Suanzao would advance on Luoyang head-on!
Yuan Wei stroked his beard, a frosty smile playing on his lips. The pieces were now in place—it was time to lay all cards on the table. Let's see how you, Dong Zhuo, plan to escape this checkmate!
Besides... he still had one final piece yet to be played.